NCFST Director Advises Congressional Subcommittee Considering Food Safety Bill
Martin Cole, PhD, director of Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST), testified Wednesday before a US congressional subcommittee deliberating key concepts to be included in a model food safety bill.
Dr. Cole spoke at the Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health hearing, “How Do We Fix Our Ailing Food Safety System?” chaired by US Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), in Washington, DC.
“Americans do not need another deadly outbreak to understand that our food safety system is in desperate straits,” said Rep. Waxman in his opening remarks. “We must act now to address this problem. Over the next few months, the Energy and Commerce Committee will move a strong food safety bill. This hearing is the first step on that legislative path. Today we will hear about some of the major concepts that our witnesses believe must be included in a model food safety bill.”
Dr. Cole was invited to present expert testimony on the use of science-based preventive controls and strategies to assure microbial food safety. “In order to successfully respond to food safety challenges and to restore consumer confidence, the US needs to increase its emphasis on the development of a modern system for the management of microbial food safety,” Cole stated.
Dr. Cole outlined four key components of such a system: risk-based preventive controls, monitoring programs for those controls, appropriate government oversight, and a strong program of food safety research. He stressed the importance of instituting new risk management approaches that enable the food industry to meet specific food safety objectives and apply proven food safety principles.
“I therefore urge this Committee and Congress to provide the means for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to continue the development of a modern, risk-based food safety system that requires risk-based preventative controls, programs to monitor their effectiveness, government oversight, and a strong program of research to assure the highest level of confidence for the US consumer.”
Other hearing witnesses included Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director, Center for Science in the Public Interest; William Hubbard, former associate commissioner for Policy and Planning, FDA, and advisor with the Alliance for a Stronger FDA; Thomas Stenzel, president and CEO of United Fresh Produce Association; and Jim Lugg, executive vice president, food safety and quality, Fresh Express.
Dr. Cole’s testimony and video can be found at energycommerce.house.gov/?option=com_content&task=view&id=1527
Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting university with more than 7,300 students in engineering, sciences, architecture, psychology, design, humanities, business and law. IIT's interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum is designed to advance knowledge through research and scholarship, to cultivate invention improving the human condition, and to prepare students from throughout the world for a life of professional achievement, service to society, and individual fulfillment. Visit www.iit.edu.
